[Hatching cavern, evening of Day One, with Rhia]

>"Now tell me how," Rhia hesitated for a moment, remembering how she
>had wanted to have a child with her beloved Idal, and continued.
>"...how is your pregnancy going?  Have you spoken to B'lin yet?"

        "My back hurts," Ilara complained good-heartedly.  "It's almost
a good thing I'm in one place all day."  She still had to eat, so the
trips between here and the Dining Hall were now her exercise regime.
She sighed, thinking about the 'discussion' earlier on today.  It was
still giving her a lot to think on.  "I... I saw B'Lin, just before the
attack.  He doesn't seem... over the moon about it," she answered
hesitantly.

        Rhia nodded sympathetically, hearing the hidden unhappiness in
her junior queenrider's voice.

**I have some concerns that I'm sure you're expecting me to bring up.**

        "Ummm, in fact Rhia, I think he'll be back later," she added in
a flustered, uncomfortable tone.  She stared for a moment at the floor,
searching for the answer.  "I can't think what about though."  She
looked up, flipping her unruly hair away from her eyes, and smiled as
she sighted Rhia in the dying light.  The WarrenLady was as unearthly
beautiful as the stars which would soon light the sky, and there was
something in the way the golden rays struck her and the restless metal-
red queen, that demanded some recognition.

        She sighed.  "That's... so..."  The colours, the shadows, the
shapes... Carlynee would go to town on a scene like this.  "Did anyone
ever tell you how the twilight brings out the shine in your eyes?" Ilara
asked distantly, admiring the picturesqueness.

-o+<Tag Jill!>+o-


[Morning Day Two, meeting about the wraith attack]

>"Intelligence?" Rhia repeated, "Wraiths could be more then just an
>annoyance to dragons if they've become intelligent."
>
>Ce'lot nodded, "Yes, well I really don't think it could be a real
>intelligence. At least not for the majority of them. But what if .. as
>crazy as it sounds .. what if some of they have learned a few tricks 
and
>can find a way to lead the rest?"
>
>"Like a hive sort of following?"
>
>Ce'lot nodded, "Maybe even with a 'queen'."

        "Very observant," added a familiar impassive voice from the back
of the office.  Demathrin could be annoyingly patronising at times, even
when he didn't mean to.  "The question is - what's their next move?  Or
should I say... 'her' next move?"

        "I don't know what you m-" Ce'lot began, cut off by the dark-
garbed rider, who paced quietly to the front to address everyone.

        "Of course not," Dema shrugged.  "What I'm suggesting is, that
our heartless enemy will adapt to our mode of defense.  Did anyone...
notice... that our dragon's flame took that little bit longer to
obliterate them?"  He cast his gaze about the other riders, some
irritated by his arrogant nature, some cowed by his dark attitude.  Some
cast their mind back to the attack, looking for the ring of truth in his
words.

        "We must prepare ourselves, for *they* are already doing so.
We've injuries to tend to... they have none, and their numbers regrow,
perhaps with every passing night."  His urgency, at least, was
understood by many in the room.  He gave a subtle nod to Chalia and
added, "Our combat techniques will need to change, yes... and while we
have the time I would make it a priority.  We could be attacked again at
any time... *any* time.  It's an unpleasant thought but we must think
it, if we're to overcome them."

        He nodded to them and started back to his place, quietly adding,
"Thank-you."  Since he'd decided to make Xylian his home, Demathrin had
begun to pick up the mannerisms - or rather more simply, manners - of
those around him.

        "Just one thing," Ce'lot put in.  "What makes you so sure
they'll attack again so soon?"

        Dema turned with a thoughtful expression.  "It's what I would
do, in their position.  And..."  He straightened uneasily.  "I have a
bad feeling I'm right."

-o+<Tag Kris!>+o-


[Noon Day Two, Hatching cavern]

        <I wish we could go out and fly,> Ilara sighed.  <Don't you miss
the days we were out training with the other dragonriders?>

        <Well... I guess, love.  But, you know better than I do what
being a queenrider means.>

        <I suppose.  Tell me, Erk, would you-> Ilara began, looking at
her bond-mate with a questioning expression.

        <Love!  My hatchlings!  They're...>

        "Uh!"  A smart kick from inside of her told Ilara the baby knew
too, strangely enough.  <Well, tell everyone, silly!>  She made for the
door, getting ready to call for help.  Shortly she plugged her ears as
Erkvinen crooned triumphantly at the commencement of the hatching.

        "Hatching everyone!" she translated with an exuberant smile of
pride.  Her thoughts drifted back... yes, it'd be just last summer...


        <It's that time of year again, 'ryssa,> Oliathan sent, waiting
patiently in case his rider needed to airlift anyone.

        <Yeah, yeah, I'm on my way to the Searchling Barracks as we
speak Ollie,> she smirked, getting up from her table in the dining hall,
even as others rose quickly, excited by the prospect of a hatching.
Why, it was almost a year to the day of the last one...

+o-<nrpg>-o+
Jill: Pretty innocent remark, from a slightly-less-than-innocent
source... maybe it's just me, but nobody seems to give Rhia an admiring
glance! ;)  I just had an itching feeling you'd want to write this one!

Kris: Something for if you're bored *grin* does this Bother Ce'lot
somehow, the military know-it-all making a show? :)

I checked btw, and the last hatching started sometime in last August ;)

Now, if you want your favourite Searchling to turn into a dragonrider,
this is the time *grin*.

    Sam M. Edwards  -o+o-  captivanova@geocities.com
    Ilara & Erkvinen       [Xylian Warren DL]
    Genesis Cave <-- http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Station/6307/
    The Planet is dying - better start looking for a new home


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